Happy Hours Day Nursery & Kool Kidz

Books used to plan birthday cakes, cress grown to explore what plants need, and quiet spaces for managing feelings give this Ashton-in-Makerfield nursery a recognisable character. These are snapshots from July 2022, rather than a description of today’s daily routine.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Happy Hours Day Nursery & Kool Kidz Outstanding and found that children made strong progress through carefully sequenced learning. The nursery has capacity for 59 children in total; children attending in July 2022 were aged 0 to 4.

In July 2022, learning connected children’s interests with their next steps. Exploring water, ice and teabags encouraged investigation, while planting cress introduced conversations about growing conditions. Books had practical uses too: children consulted recipes when discussing birthday cakes. Reading extended beyond listening to stories.

The nursery had to follow the early years foundation stage, the framework for children’s learning, development and care. In everyday terms, the July 2022 activities brought language, physical development and early writing into play: babies made shapes through movements in sand, while older children drew and experimented with writing on registers.

Outdoor access was continuous in July 2022. Running, climbing and taking manageable risks gave children opportunities for active play alongside the indoor activities. Practising handwashing, dressing and wiping their own faces also made independence part of the day.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to be highly successful, with strong progress supported by individual strategies, professional collaboration and carefully evaluated additional funding.

In July 2022, preschool children could choose quiet areas when they needed space to handle their feelings. This gave them a practical way to step away from a larger group. Emotional support had also shaped the response to pandemic disruption: staff had kept contact with families through calls, recorded stories and video messages, then emphasised communication, self-care and emotional development on children’s return.

Safety procedures in July 2022 included recruitment checks, first-aid training, assessments of environmental risks and routes for raising concerns.

The address is Bryn Children's Centre, Downall Green Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 0DL.

In July 2022, the nursery operated throughout the year, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 7.30am to 6pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time. Families weighing these arrangements should distinguish the inspection-era timetable from a current booking commitment.

• Dated inspection picture. The Outstanding judgement is from July 2022. Treat the activities and care arrangements described here as a picture of that period.
• Space for feelings. In July 2022, preschool children used quiet areas to regulate their emotions. During a visit, how would settling and emotional support work for your child now?
• Attendance planning. The July 2022 sessions spanned 7.30am to 6pm across weekdays. Establish a current written attendance agreement before organising work around that historical timetable.

The July 2022 picture suits families who value practical investigation, books woven into play and opportunities for children to manage feelings independently. Individual SEND strategies and purposeful outdoor activity strengthen that dated account. The Outstanding judgement provides a clear inspection benchmark, while the practical arrangements need to be understood as historical rather than a current offer.